HomeMy Public PortalAboutPlanning Board -- 2017-06-28 Minutes \\ Brewster Planning Board
wsr�,,,, Approved : 07-26 -17
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Taylor inquired about units that are set to expire and Bennett noted that Preservation of Affordable Housing
( POAH ) , a non - profit organization , is overlooking the King ' s Landing affordable units .
Taylor suggested all Cape towns and involvement from the Department of Housing and Community
Development ( DHCD) was necessary in order to have a successful inventory of affordable housing .
Bennett noted that the Cape Cod Commission is working on a housing needs assessment as well . She noted
that there was a regional effort to involve DHCD in the issue of housing needs Cape wide .
Hillis - Dineen noted concerns on tax issues .
Judd referenced the Plan ' s table of permitted Residential Uses ( pg . 48 — 49 ) and suggested that the
information on those pages may be useful for the Board to refer to in applications before them .
Degen noted that the report does not allow the town to decide the number of affordable housing units . She
stated that that number may be impossible to calculate . Degen noted that the report did a decent job of
showing Brewster' s current housing needs and a plan of how to move forward .
Motion by Taylor to Endorse the Town of Brewster Chapter 40B Housing Production Plan . Second by
Degen . Votes. 6 -0 -0 .
7 : 06 PM SPECIAL PERMIT SIGN
CONTINUED Application #2017 -08 : ( Continued from June 14 , 2017) Applicant/Owner: First Parish Brewster
Unitarian Universalist . Representative : Karena Stroh for property located at 1969 Main Street and shown on
Assessor' s Map 67 , Lot 1 in the R- M Zoning District . Pursuant to Brewster Zoning Bylaw § 179-20 . 1 . J , the
Applicant requests an exception to the allowable square footage for signage for a Church or Religious Use for
one sandwich board sign , 2 ' x 3 ' in size (two sandwich board signs 2 ' x 3 ' in size during the summer) to be
displayed in front of the meetinghouse one week prior to events open to the public .
Documents :
• 06/28/ 17 Mullin Affidavit of Roberta Barrett
• 06/28/ 17 Mullin Affidavit of Kari Hoffmann
Karena Stroh was present on behalf of the Applicant .
Judd noted that Barrett and Hoffmann have reviewed the video from the previous hearing on June 14 , 20171
provided Mullin Affidavits and are eligible to vote in the application .
Degen asked about the location of the sandwich board signs and whether the signs were in the right of way .
Degen also asked about the yoga sign that was up in front of the meetinghouse . Stroh stated that she had
been out of the office and that she would look into the yoga sign .
Taylor asked if the signs were taken down at night and Stroh responded that they were not but the signs could
be taken down each night , if necessary .
Barrett noted that the Board may unintentionally be creating a new category of seasonal , temporary signs .
Barrett referenced recent vision workshops held and comments made during those workshops that the
community wanted to protect the rural character of Route 6A . She felt the sandwich board signs did not
maintain the rural character and asked if the church would consider signs that were more aesthetically pleasing
to the eye and integrated with the church sign . Stroh reported that the current font was chosen because it was
clear and easy to read . She worried that changing the font could cause safety issues .
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Octavia Ausula , a member of the church , spoke on behalf of the church and asked about the type of sign the
Board would like to see . Barrett noted she would prefer a sign that looked less transient . Bennett noted that
the sign would have to be approved by the Historic District Commission ( HDC ) .
Hoffmann asked about the schedule of events to get a better understanding of when the signs would be
displayed . Hoffmann referenced other sandwich board signs that were being used throughout town . Stroh
noted that the church chose their signs because of their clarity .
Bennett noted that there is a temporary sign allowed in the bylaw and that sign may be displayed for 60 days .
Bennett acknowledged that the church had stepped forward to rectify a non- compliant situation . She
suggested a condition that the sign come down when there was no event scheduled .
Hoffmann asked if the design of the sign should be considered and Bennett suggested the design would be
considered by HDC . '
Judd referenced off- premises signs and asked if the Applicant has considered those type of signs . Stroh stated
she was not familiar with off- premises signs but would be willing to look into that option .
Degen again inquired about the location of the signs and the Board believed the signs were actually on state
property . Stroh suggested the signs could be placed on the stone wall on the church ' s property .
Barrett asked about the special permit as it relates to HDC approval . Bennett noted that the Board could
approve a special permit and HDC would decide whether to issue a Certificate of Appropriateness . Barrett
asked if the Planning Board could condition the design . Bennett suggested that the Board could require the
Applicant to come back annually for review of the condition of their sign . Bennett suggested an administrative
review by the Board so there would be no application or filing fee .
Stroh noted that the goal of the signs were to advertise events open to the public . Stroh further stated that the
church intended to make the meetinghouse a place for the community to gather and as part of the church
receiving CPC funds this is what they hoped to do with these public events .
Taylor clarified the amount of time the signs would be displayed .
A straw vote was taken as to whether the Board would approve a single sign with annual renewal review,
located on the church 's property and after the end of August only be displayed for one week before the event
and then taken down immediately following the event . Hillis - Dineen , Hoffmann and Barrett noted support for
one sign with the referenced conditions .
Ausula noted that if the church was not allowed two signs , one event would have to be cancelled . Stroh noted
that displaying two events on one sign makes the sign very cluttered . In polling individuals who participated in
the public events , most people noted that they learned of the events from the signs out front .
Judd again suggested an off- premises sign and for the Applicant to speak further with the Building
Commissioner about this option .
Stroh suggested a restricted option for the second sign so that it could be displayed on the day before and day
of an event during July and August .
A straw vote was taken on use of the second sign within 24 hours of the event . Barrett , Hillis - Dineen ,
Hoffmann and Taylor voted yes . Degen and Judd voted no .
Stroh inquired about having two signs on their property but only using one sign at a time . For logistics
purposes , Stroh suggested one sign advertising one event would be displayed at one time while the other sign
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would be laid down and they would be changed to and from the upright position depending on the event .
Bennett suggested Stroh discuss her suggestion with the Building Commissioner .
Motion by Hillis -Dineen to Chose the Public Hearing on Special Permit Sian Application #2017-08 .
Second by Degen . Vote : 6-0-0 .
Motion by Taylor to Approve Special Permit Sian Application #2037-08 for one sign with the following
conditions ; the sign will be renewed annually through administrative review, the sign will be located
on church property, the sign will be displayed for 60 days during July and August, outside of July and
August the sign will be displayed one week prior to events , HDC Certificate of Appropriateness is
required and the sign is only to be used to advertise for community events open to the public. Second
by Degen . Vote : 6 -0 -0 .
8 : 14 PM PLANNING DISCUSSION CONTINUED
Bennett will provide bylaw amendments to the Board for review at the July 26 , 2017 meeting .
Bennett discussed having associate members appointed to the Planning Board to reduce the risk of voting
quorum issues .
Hoffmann thanked everyone for participating in the vision workshops .
Bennett stated that the Board of Selectmen ( BOS) will be discussing recreational marijuana at their next
meeting and the Planning Board should anticipate receiving direction from the BOS as to how to proceed .
There are various options including a moratorium , ballot measure and zoning bylaw amendment .
Degen reported on the BOS meeting of July 19th .
Motion by Barrett to adjourn . Second by Hoffmann . Vote : 6 -0-0 . Meeting adjourned at 8 : 29 pm .
Next Planning Board Meeting Date : 07/12/17
Respectfully submitted ,
C ' arlotte Degen, Rfanning Board Clerk
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